GOODRICH-It’s a great feeling to walk into any local business and get a feeling of immediate warmth. Rick and Nancy Cassabon, owners of Goodrich IGA for seven years, found a special way to spread that feeling during the recent holiday season.
Barb Hoag, supervisor of the Oaktree Elementary School daycare program and a member of the Goodrich Music Boosters, came up with the idea of teaming with Cassabon for a fundraiser.
Initially, Hoag said she hoped to do some type of fundraiser with the sale of turkeys during the holiday season.
“I figured maybe he could donate a certain percentage of sales to the music boosters, and he suggested Kowalski hams because whatever he did not sell, his wholesaler would take back,” Hoag said.
For each pound sold, Cassabon donated 50 cents. He put the plan into action and ended up donating about $500 after selling 839 pounds of ham.
“I thought this was great advertising for us, as well as being able to help out the kids in our community,” he said. Cassabon added the sales from Thanksgiving as well.
The music boosters will add the donation to their general fund for the time being, but plan to purchase new choir robes and participate in more field trips, such as a trip to Chicago that the group has planned.
In addition to Goodrich IGA being helpful, their grocery supplier company, Nashfinch, was taking notice and named them the store of the month. Nashfinch is the Minnesota-based headquarters for 8,000 independently owned groceries.
Cassabon said he feels honored that he and his wife received this mention. Nashfinch recognizes any special activities and all-around good working relationships that each store may have.
Before the Cassabons purchased the IGA in Goodrich, he was involved with Farmer Jack Supermarkets for 21 years.
With 21 employees to help serve the community, Cassabon knows people are eager to come back to his store.
“This nomination would not have come without the help of our employees and customers that we have come to know,” he said. “You’ve got to surround yourself with good people. My employees are hard workers and this is their honor, too.”